Prepayment arrangement for meters.



No. 879,913. PATENTED FEB. 25, 1908, H. W. SAYLES.

PREPAYMENT ARRANGEMENT FOR METERS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 4, 1905.

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PREPAYMENT ARRANGEMENT FOR METERS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 4, 1905.

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QLZZu/ W 67 UNITED sr TEs PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY W. SAYLES,

OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

GEORGE M. WILLIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PREPAYMENT ARRANGEMENT FOR METERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1908.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

-Be it known that I, HENRY W. SAYLEs,

citizen of the United States, residing at Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Prepayment Arrangement for Meters, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, refer ence being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this s ecification.

My invention relates to e ectrical prepayment devices, and particularly to such devices adapted for association with electric meters, and its object is to provide a more simple and a more efficient device of this kin The device may be adapted for use with different kinds of'meters and is rovided with electromagnetic circuit controlling mechanism whose circuit is controlled by very simple contact mechanism which in turn is controlled by the coins or slugs passing through the device.

My invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in

which I Figure 1 shows my device attached to a meter. Fig. 2 is asectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of contact mechanism employed. Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on line 44 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 diagrammatically shows the electrical connection. The mechanism is contained within a casing or box 1 through which a coin slot 2 extends from the top to the bottom to empty into a receptacle or draweil 3 at the lower end of. the box. An opening or slot 4 leads through the inner edge of the coin slot or channel near the lower end thereof and projecting through said slot into the coin channel is a wheel 5 provided with the teeth or prongs 6. This wheel is secured to. a bushing 7, and the hub 8 also secured to this bushing has an arm 9 from which extends a contact iin 10. The bushing 7 is preferably of insulating material and provided with the flange 11 for insulating the wheel from the hub 8. This bushing is pivotally mounted on a shaft 12 hearing in the supports 13 and 14. ()n said shaft adjacent to the hub 3 is secured a second hill) 15 from which extends an arm 16 having at its end the slot or groove 17 hei hold the arms 9 and 16 in electrical engagetween the ends 13 and 19. The contact pin ays in this slot 17 betweenthe ends 18 and '19, but the end 18 has a lining 20 of sulating material so that the contact arm 10 can form electrical connection only with the end 19 which may be provided with a con- 21 of silver or other suitable matetact ti rial. ecured to the inner end of the shaft 12 is the bevel gear 22, and a bushing 23 of insulating material insulates the hub 15 from the shaft and from the sup ort 14. A spring 24 secureda-t one end to t e shaft 12 and at the othefend. to the arm 9 tends to hold the contact extension 10 in electrical engagement with the contact tip 21 on the end 19 of the arm 16.

Suitably journaled in the supports 25 and 26, or otherwise, is a spindle or shaft 27 having secured to its lower end a gear 28 to mesh with the gear 22 and near its upper end a bevel ear 29 to mesh with a bevel gear 30 seourec to a shaft 31 extending to the exterior of the casing 1 for connection with the movable element of the meter. Carried on the supporting frame 32 is a solenoid 33 within WlllCll'fi. core 34 may reciprocate. This core at its lower end is provided with a switch so blade 35 insulated therefrom and adapted to electrically connect together the contact terminals 36 and 37. To insure better contact the switch blade may have the wedge extensions 38 and 39 for engaging respectively in the notches 40 and 41 in the contact terminals 36 and 37. The solenoid at its upper end may be provided with a stationary core section 42 whereby less current will be necessary to hold the movable core after att'raction than to cause movement thereof, and the movable core ma also be provided with guide rods 43 and 44 passin respectively through the core section 42 an a supporting frame 45, which also supports the contact terminals 36 and 37, but insulated therefrom as shown. Extending from the sup ort 25, but insulated therefrom and from eac 1 other, are the brushes 46 and 47 engaging respectively the hubs 8 and 15 of the contact mechanism.

orm also escape- 7 rent sup ly to the main circuit.

ment, but the weight of a single coin is sufthrough which fastening screws 63 may pass ficient to rotate the wheel with respect to the shaft 12 to carry the contact extension 10 to the other end of the slot 17 and out of electrical engagement with the end 19 of the arm 16. The solenoid and the brushes are suitably connected in circuit so that when there are no coins in the coin channel the contact 10 will be in engagement with thearm 19 and circuit closed through the solenoid to carry the core and switch blade from the contacts terminals 36 and 37, these terminals being suitably connected with the meter circuits to prevent current flow through the meter and to the main circuit controlled thereby. When a coin or coins, however, are in the channel the wheel will be rotated to break connection between the contacts 10 and 19 and the energizing circuit for the solenoid will be broken and the core thereof will 'be moved to cause closure of the circuits controlled thereby, and upon connection of a translating devicein'circuit the meter will operate. The meter during operation causes also rotation of the shaft 12 through the intervening gearing mechanism and shafting, and the wheel 5 is turned,

the solenoid controlling circuit being held open during all the time. that the coin is exerting ressure on a wheel tooth, but the instant t atthe wheel releases the coin the spring 24 will return the wheel to carry the contacts 10 and 19 into en agement with each other thereby to again 0 ose the circuit through thesolenoid and to cut off the cur- The rotation of t e wheel, of course, is adjusted so that the proper amount of current will be delivered during the passage of each coin by the 'esca ement whee and if several coins are in the s ot the o eration of the meter will be the last 'coin has been rebrushes 53 and 54. A damping disk ,55 also mounted on the spindle is suitably controlled by a dampin magnet 56. A worm thread 57 is provide at the'upper end of the spindle 'and engaged by theworm wheel 58 secured to the end of the shaft31 extendin from the prepayment mechanism. A fie d coil 59 surrounds the armature and upon current flow through .both field coil and armature the armature and spindle will-rotate and the in Fig. 1., the casing 1 is adapted for separable attachment to the frame 61 of the meter,

being, therefore, provided with lugs 62 ,or coins Within the coin channel.

into engagement with the meter frame, the shaft 31 passing through both frames. The circuit connections for the instrument are best shown in Fig. 5. A source of current 64 is adapted to provide current for translating devices T suitably connected with the line limbs a and b. The line limb a serially includes the field winding 59 and the switch terminals 36 and 37. The pressure circuit of the meter extends from the line limb a through the commutator and armature to the line limb b. The controlling circuit extends from the line limb a, through the solenoid, brush 47, through the contact. mechanism to the brush 46 and to the line limb b; and a resistance r may also be included in this circuit. When there is no coin. in the meter, and consequently no pressure on the wheel 5, the controlling circuit will be closed through the contact mechanism as before described, and the core 34 held in position to open the current circuit at the swltch contacts 36 and 37. Immediately upo insertion of a coin, however, the wheel and contact mechanism will be moved to open the controlling circuit whereby the core is released to connect together the contacts 36 and 37 to close the series circuit of the meter and to allow current flow tothe translating devices, the meter at the same time beginning to operate. The movements of the meter armature are transmitted through the worm thread 57, worm wheel 58, shaft 31, gears 30 and 29, shaft 27, gears 28 and 22, shaft 12 and through the contact mechanism to the wheel 5, this gearing being adjusted to cause rotation of the wheel dependent upon the energy to be delivered to the translatin device in return for the coin Immediately after the last compasses the wheel 5 the controlling circuit will be closed to open the current circuit and current flow to the translating devices revented.

The coins afterii passage t rough the channel drop into the receptacle 3. To normally protect the mechanism and to allow access thereto for ins ection or repairs acover 65 may be hinged or otherwise supported on the casing to be lockedthereto, and this cover may also extend over the entrance to the receptacle 3. The front wall 66 of the coinchannel may be of glass or other transparent material and the cover, if opaque, may be'provided with an opening disposed before the glass wall of'the channel so that the subscriber may at any time see the number of coins m thedevwe To prevent tampering the upper art 67 of the coin channel or rendered inaccurate.

Many changes may be made in the arrangement and construction ofthe various parts without departing from the spirit of my invention, an I do not, therefore, wish to be limited to the arrangement and construction herein shown.

Having described the above embodiment of my invention 1 claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The combination with the movable element and pressure and current circuits in a meter, of prepayment mechanism for controlling said circuits, electromagnetic mechanism 'for the prepayment mechanism included in the pressure circuit for controlling the current circuit, contact-mechanism for controlling the pressure circuit, two contact members for said contact mechanism, one of saidmembers being associated with the coins passing through the machine and the other member being in driven connection with the movable element of the meter,-

clutch mechanism between the contact members adapted to' allow slight relative movement between said members independently of the movable element, means for normally holding said contact members in electrical engagement to close the pressure circuit whereby the electromagnetlc mechanism therein is controlled to open. the current circuit, and means upon engagement of coins with'the one contact member for causing disengagement of said members-to open the pressure circuit whereby the electromagnetic mechan-' ism is controlled to close the current circuit, both contact members being then driven upon movement of the movable element.

2. The combination with the movable element and pressure and current circuits in a meter, of prepayment mechanism for controlling said circuits, electromagnetic mechanism for the prepayment mechanism included in the pressure circuit for'controlling the current circuit, contact mechanism for controlling the pressure ircuit, two contact members for said contat mechanism, one of said members being associated with'the coins passing through the machine and the other member being in driven connection with the movable element of the meter, clutch mechanism between'the contact members adapted to allow slight relative movement between said members independently of the movable element, means for normally holding said contact members in electrical.

engagement to closethe pressure circuitwhereby' the electromagnetic mechanism therein is controlled to open the current circuit, and means upon engagement of coins with the one contact member for causing disengagement of said. members to open the pressure circuit whereby the electromagnetic mechanism is controlled to close the currentcircuit, both contact members bein then driven upon movement of the vmova le element, 7

said one contact member acting also as anescapement means for allowing passage of the coins-through the device at a rate proportional to the energy to be measured by the meter, disengagement of coins from the one, contact member allowing relative movement of the contact members to again close'the pressure circuit whereby the electromag' netic mechanism causes opening of the series circuit.

3. The combination with the movable element and energizing circuits of a meter, of prepayment mechanism for controlling the circuits, there being a coin slot through which coins may pass, an escapement wheel projecting into said coin slot for engagement with the coins upon their passage therethrough,

.a' contact member connected rigidly with said escapement wheel, a companion contact member connected with the movable element to be driven thereby u on actuation thereof, yielding spring clutc mechanism vbetween the contact members disposed to normally hold the contact members in one relative position to render the circuits ineffective, means upon passage of coins through the mechanism in engagement with the escapement wheel for moving the contact member in another relative position to render the circuits effective whereby the movable element is actuated, said eontact'members and escapement wheel upon actuation of the movable element-being then driven together to allow escapement of the coinsat a .rate proportional to the energy to be measured by the meter, said clutching mechanism upon release of the wheel from coins causing return ofthe contact members to their normal relative position to again. render the circuits inefi'ective.

4. The combination with the movable element and energizing circuits of an electrical meter, of. prepayment mechanism for con-. trolling the circuits, an escapement wheel disposed in the path of coins to the mechanism, a contact member rigidly connected with the esca ement wheel, a pivot shaft upon which said wheel and associate contact member are adapted to rotate, a companion contact member secured'to the shaft, gearing mechanism connecting said shaft with the movable'element, said first contact member being confined to rotate through a small arc with respect to the companion contact member, said contact members being associated with the metercircuits, yielding means tend.- ing to hold the contact members in one relative position to render the circuits ineffective when there are no coins in engagement with the escapement wheel, and means upon engagement of coins with the escapement wheel for causing the contacts to move against the action of said yielding means'to change their relative position to render the circuits effective whereby the meter may 0 erate.

5. The combination with t e movable element and energizing circuits of an electrical meter, of prepayment mechanism for controlling the circuits, an escapement wheel disposed in the path of coins to the mechanism, a contact member rigidly connected with the escapement wheel, a pivot shaft upon which said wheel and associate contact member are adapted to rotate, a companion contact member secured to the shaft, gearing mechanism connecting said shaft with the movable element, said first contact member being confined to rotate through a small arc with respect to the companion contact member, said contact members being associated with the meter circuits, yielding means tending to hold the contact members in one relative position to render the circuits ineffective when there are no coins in engagement with the escapement wheel, and meansupon engagement of coins with the escapement wheel for causing the contacts to moveagainst the action of said yielding means to change their relative position to render the circuits efl'ective whereby the meter may operate, said contact members upon actuation of the movable element then being driven together at a rate to allow escapement of coins by the escapement wheel at a rate proportional to the energy to be delivered through the meter.

6. The combination with coin controlling -mechanism, of other mechanism controlled thereby, electromagnetic controlling mechanism and circuits therefor, contact mechanism for controlling said circuits, two contact members for said contact mechanism, one of said contact members being associated with the coins traveling through the controlling mechanism, the other contact member being connected with the mechanism to be controlled, means for causing relative movement between the contact members when there are no coins in the mechanism whereby said contact members are in electrical connection to close the circuit for the electromagnetic controlling mechanism whereby said electromagnetic mechanism is actuated to pre vent movement of the mechanism to be controlled, and means when there are coins in the controlling mechanism for causing relative movement of the contactmembers out of electrical engagement whereby the electromagnetic mechanism is actuated to allow movement of the mechanism to be controlled,.said contact members when out of electrical connection being both driven by the meclianism to be controlled to allow escapement of coins through the controlling contact mechanism for controlling said cir-" cuits, an escapement wheel adapted for engagement with coins passing through the device, a contact member for said contact mechanism rigidly connected with. said escapement wheel, a companlon contact member for said contact mechanism connected with the mechanism to be controlled, said contact members being normally in engage-' ment to close the circuits through the electromagnetic mechanism whereby said electromagnetic mechanism is actuated to prevent movement of the mechanism to be controlled, means upon engagement of coins with the escapement wheel for causing relative movement of the contact members to be carried out of engagement with each other whereby the circuit through the electromagnetic mechanism is opened and the electromagnetic mechanism actuated to allow movement of the mechanism to be controlled, said contact mechanism and escapement wheel being thereupon driven through the connection thereof with the mechanism to be controlled, the rate of travel of the escapement 'wheel beingadjusted to allow the proper rate of travel of the coins through the controlling device.

8. In a coin controlled device, the combination with an escapement wheel adapted for engagement with coins passing through the device, a contact member rigidly conpanion contact member, said contact mem-- bers serving to control electrical circuits, driving means connected with said companion contact member, said contact members being relatively movable, means for limiting the range of said relative movement, yielding means tending normally to establish electrical engagement between said contact members, engagment of coins with the escapement wheel causing said ieldingmeans to be overcome and the e ectrical connection between said contact members broken.

9. The combination with coin controlling mechanism, of driving means controlledv thereby, an escapement wheel for engagement with coins passing throughthe controlling mechanism, a contact member rigidly connected with the escapemen't wheel, a companion contact member, said contact members serving to control electrical circuits connected with the driving means, said companion contact member being connected with said driving means to be driventhereby, means for allowing relative movement between the contact members, and yielding means serving to hold contact members in electrical engagement when there are no coins in the controlling mechanism whereby adjusted so that the escapement wheel will allow escape of coins at the desired rate,

.said contact members being maintained out of connection while there are coins in engagement w1th the escapement wheel, said yielding means causing rengagement thereof upon disengagement of coins from the escapement wheel whereby the electrical circuits are restored to prevent actuation of the controlled driving means.

10. In a coin -controlled-. ;device for controlling driving mechanism, the combinationwith an escapement wheel adapted for engagement with the coins passing through the device, of a contact arm connected rigidly with the escapement wheel, a companion contact arm associated with said first contact arm and connected with the driving means to be driven thereby, said contact members serving to control electric mechanism connected with the driving means, there being a slot in said companion contact arm in which the end of the first contact arm -may play to allow limited relative rotation between said contact arms, said first contact arm when at one end of said slot being in electrical engagement with the com anion contact arm, and spring means ten ing to hold the arms in such electrical position, said first arm being insulated from the companion arm when at the other end of the slot, engagement of coins with the contact wheel causing the first contact arm to be rotated out of electrical engagement with the second contact arm whereby the electrical mechanism is controlled to allow actuation of the driving means, said driving means then causing combinedrotation of the contact arms and escapement wheel to control the escapement of coins through the machine, said contact arms upon disengagement of coins from the escapement wheel being returned to their normal position of electrical engagement, whereby the electrical mechanism is restored to prevent movement of'the driving means.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 27th day of Nov. A. D., 1905.

HENRY W. SAYLES. Witnesses J. F. MILLEMANN, W. J. H. CRIBB. 

